with Matt Turner, Coastguard Hibiscus, published November 2, 2011
With the warmer weather gradually returning, many of us are thinking about preparing our boats after the winter lay-off to enjoy the fishing or cruising. With that in mind, here are a few reminders that will help ensure you won’t need a Coastguard rescue vessel on the water:
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Fill up with new petrol and flush out any that’s stale. Check fuel filters for water, and replace if necessary. Check plugs – a high number of Coastguard callouts are due to stale fuel, or dirty plugs. Top up the oil and check fuel lines for splits. Most importantly get your motor and boat professionally serviced, particularly if you have a modern engine fitted with an ECU chip. Check your spare parts and toolbox.
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Assess the condition of all lines, replacing any that have frayed. Check the anchor chain, warp, shackles and winch.
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Check the health of your batteries; a huge number of Coastguard callouts are to boats with dead batteries. Test electrical devices including depth/speed sounders, GPS, VHF, radar, navigation lights, fume detectors, bilge pumps, etc. Check the compass is reading accurately.
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Check safety equipment: Are all lifejackets present and in good repair? Distress flares and fire extinguishers still serviceable? Got a bailer, knife and torch? Is the first-aid kit complete?
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If you don’t yet have marine VHF radio, give it thought. It could save your life, and prices for handheld units begin at just $100. For details on VHF coverage around our coasts, as well as advice on using VHF, get a copy of Maritime New Zealand’s Radio Handbook for Coastal Vessels. You can download it in pdf format from www.maritimenz.govt.nz, along with a raft of other boating safety publications. While on their website, you can also register – at no cost – your personal EPIRB (emergency distress beacon), if you own one. Another freebie is their Safe Boating Pack, which includes a DVD, booklet, and other useful information.
Last but not least, if you have a Coastguard membership, check its expiry date. To renew or acquire membership online, visit
www.coastguard.org.nz and don’t forget to check the box that diverts the commission to your local Coastguard unit.
